FRUSTRATING LACK OF FACTS

The provincial government, the Vancouver Island Health Authority and RCMP
don't know for sure if the drug crystal meth is a problem in Campbell River
because no one has statistics.

But provincially, the number of deaths from crystal meth use is rising,
even while there has been a decrease in the total number of overdose deaths.

In 2000, the BC Coroners Service had only two reported methamphetamine
overdose deaths. In 2003, that number jumped to 12.

So the provincial government has a new strategy to counteract what Susan
Brice, the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Services, calls "the
growing concerns of parents, teachers and front line workers about the
harmful impacts of crystal meth on the people who use it."

The problem seems to be though, that no one in Campbell River knows who
those users are - or how many there are.

Campbell River's drug awareness officer said only three people were busted
for having the drug in the District last year. He even said crystal meth
use wasn't a big problem.

Then he said that the small number of busts didn't "indicate how many
people are using or selling."

Several spokespeople for the Island health authority said there were more
crystal meth users than previous years, but all the information was
anecdotal - meaning employees said more people were getting help or were on
the drug.

But again, no hard statistics or numbers.

So while the provincial government runs around identifying priorities for
its new strategy, (priorities include identifying high-risk populations,
reducing individual harm, building safer communities, increasing the skills
of service providers, and informing the public) Campbell River's front line
workers don't seem to have a clear idea of how big the problem is or isn't.

"I believe this strategy responds to the many calls for factual information
and practical advice that have come to me," Minister Brice said.

What Campbell River needs is some facts about how many people are using
meth in this community, before people and resources are poured into
programs dealing with crystal meth addictions.